3. Plus, Minus
Why is it that the people who should die are still living just fine, while the ones who shouldn’t die are the ones leaving this world?
The gods clearly hated Anshi. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t keep trying to take people away from her like this.
“Mom too…”
A memory from a year ago surfaced in Anshi’s mind.
It was not long after her father’s death.
Her mother, Sophia, had thrown herself into the Venu River that ran through the capital. A man saved her. According to witnesses, the man wore his hat low and left right away, so no one knew who he was.
“I’m sorry, I’ll never do it again, Anshi…”
Even Anshi, who hadn’t shown a hint of emotion and had calmly tried to find a way to survive after her father’s death, could only weep silently that day. Seeing that, Sophia had turned pale and apologized. After that, she never tried it again.
But Anshi, seeing even her mother attempt such a thing, made up her mind.
She would kill the man who had taken everything from them.
Lying curled up on the floor, Anshi vowed:
She would kill Cardian.
And that debtor scumbag too.
Maybe then… she could breathe a little. Maybe the bleak and suffocating darkness before her eyes would lighten just a bit.
Henette de Maron, sitting on a sofa and smoking a cigar with a bored look, rubbed out the fire.
The Low Club in the capital—gathering place of elite gentlemen. He had come to meet his friend, Damian de Orphe, who had been showing up here frequently of late. But hours had passed, and Damian was still nowhere in sight.
Guess he’s not coming today. That’s right, he said he had a business trip down south—he wouldn’t come straight here without resting.
Henette was almost relieved and stood up. After all, he hadn’t really come to see his friend today—his father had pestered him into bringing up something a bit more official.
“Henette.”
Just as Henette rose to leave, Damian arrived. Henette sat back down in surprise.
“You—why did you come?”
“Was I not supposed to?” Damian replied with a smirk as he settled into the seat across from him. He downed a whiskey shot, his red lips forming a beautiful arc. He frowned slightly at the strong liquor.
What did the women say again? Even the frown lines on his brow were sexy, or something like that?
“Ugh.”
Henette shivered, creeped out. Damian furrowed his brow as if Henette were acting weird. Henette shrugged.
“They say the daughter of Viscount Ziden is head over heels for you.”
“That party was just yesterday, Henette.”
“In a day, you can learn how many couples promised marriage at that party. So, how was the south?”
“Not so great.”
“Why?”
“A woman tried to kill herself right in front of me.”
Damian’s expression, recalling the moment, was not a pleasant one. Henette raised a curious brow.
“What, the great war hero of Orphe scared of someone dying?”
“I don’t like it. Watching someone kill themselves right in front of me.”
Why do people keep doing that? Damian muttered softly, but Henette didn’t hear it—he was still thinking about how to bring up today’s purpose.
But it was Damian who got to the point first.
“If you’ve got something to say, go ahead.”
“How’d you know?”
Without answering, Damian lit a new cigar. Watching his friend lower his gaze and strike the match, Henette finally spoke, with a sigh as smoke curled into the air.
“My father wants you as his son-in-law. He wants you to marry my sister, Helcia.”
Damian raised an eyebrow, though he didn’t seem surprised.
Of course not—at twenty-five, he was the perfect groom. Countless marriage proposals must have been flooding in.
Damian de Orphe.
War hero of the Empire.
The embodiment of Regess, the god of war.
Beloved second son of the Orphe ducal family.
And most recently, the “Most Handsome Man in the Belgader Empire.”
Having spent five years entrenched in military life, Damian had suddenly retired after being wounded a few months ago. Only then did the social circles begin to take notice.
Whether at a party, salon, or club—wherever he appeared, talk of him followed.
Looks, status, talent—and even charm and wit. His reputation was spotless. His floral business, launched right after retirement, was a smashing success.
Some who hadn’t yet met him assumed his perfection was just a rumor the Orphe family planted.
Those who did know him began trying to snatch him up before anyone else could. Including Henette’s father, the Marquess of Maron.
Henette himself thought Damian was a good friend. For someone who rarely formed deep relationships, Damian was special.
But Henette didn’t think Damian would make a good husband.
“You don’t seem to want me to marry your sister.”
“No, I don’t…”
“Most people at least pretend to be in favor. I’m not a bad catch, you know. I’d treat Lady Helcia kindly.”
“And how long would that last? You’re crooked and ambitious. If we tied you to Helcia, she’d wither and die.”
“Henette. If you keep acting a part long enough, it becomes real.”
“So you’re actually considering it?”
Henette leaned forward. Damian, still lazily reclined, watched his friend’s shocked face with amusement. Just as Henette was about to burst again—
“Unfortunately, I won’t be marrying Lady Helcia.”
“What’s wrong with my sister now?”
Henette, who just opposed the marriage, now felt oddly insulted. Damian replied casually.
“Marriage isn’t win-win. It’s zero-sum. I must be the one gaining.”
Which meant the wife would be the minus. Selfish bastard—or maybe, thanks for sparing Helcia?
“Besides, there’s a position the family wants me to go take.”
The Orphe family? Henette arched a brow slightly. He couldn’t tell if it was a good position or not.
“Someone you’ll gain from?”
“Not at all.”
Figures.
“But who knows? Might meet destiny.”
Sure, right.
Still, Henette gave a slight nod and offered hollow words of blessing:
“Well. I hope you find the right match.”
In the outskirts of the capital Felitz, along Lons Street, buildings with uniform architectural styles lined the road. Anshi, having stepped off a shared carriage, walked with restrained movements.
Compared to the south, it was still chilly. She pulled her coat tighter. Fortunately, her destination was close. When Anshi knocked on the door, it swung open almost instantly.
“You’re here, Rain!”
Madam Roma beamed and welcomed her in. Her expression was too urgent to be simple happiness.
“Is there something urgent to do?”
That was Anshi’s conclusion.
Madam Roma ran a few small businesses. One of them involved distributing odd jobs.
The tasks were varied—from delivering fruit from the south, to writing letters, to summarizing books…
Anshi regularly took on work from here. Her servant’s pay wasn’t enough to cover daily expenses and medicine.
“There’s always this much work for you. But today—it’s truly urgent and important.”
“Before that—this. Can you sell it?”
Anshi pulled out a fountain pen. Roma’s eyes widened as she examined it.
“Where’d you get this? It’s a nice piece.”
“It was a gift.”
“There’s a name on it. What should I say your relationship to the owner is?”
“Say we have no relation.”
“Sure.”
Even as she said that, Roma thought: I’ll say it was a secret lover.
That was cleanest when selling items with names on them. It avoided suspicion and discouraged inquiry. Nobles’ personal lives were risky to pry into.
“Commission’s 20%.”
“Thank you. Now—what’s the job?”
“Rain, you. You’re going to dress like a noble lady.”
Anshi’s lips parted slightly. Her blue eyes instinctively held wariness.
Roma didn’t care. She pulled out a few fine dresses from inside and held them up to Anshi, continuing quickly.
“Well, not exactly a noble lady, but close. Anyway, this young lady got an urgent request a few days ago. Seems her family arranged a meeting, but she’s in love with someone else.”
“…So?”
“This one’s best. Anyway, she needs someone to go in her place and cause a scandal.”
“You’re saying I should pretend to be her?”
“Exactly. Rain, I told you—you have that noble air about you. You’re perfect.”
Anshi’s face hardened. Impersonation? That was too different from anything she’d done before.
“I’m not doing it.”
She pushed Roma’s hand away. Roma elbowed her playfully.
“Five hundred lus for this one job.”
Five hundred lus. More than two months’ salary as a servant. But… it was too risky. Until she killed Cardian de Orphe, she couldn’t afford to draw attention.
“I can’t, ma’am.”
“Come on. Is it because of the scandal part? Rain, just acting coldly like you always do is enough. Don’t feel pressured. And if you knew who the guy was…”
“Please find someone else.”
“It’s today. If you say no, it’s over.”
Roma made a pleading face. But Anshi shook her head firmly. Her resolve made Roma sigh deeply.
“Agh… then who’s going to meet the Orphe heir now…”
At that, Anshi stopped.
Her blue eyes lifted, a strange glint flickering within them.
